Adjustable tongue.



G. MGLEODL ADJUSTABLE TONGUE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2a, 1913.

1,1 1 3,458, v Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

.18 ,9 O o I WITNESSES: I IN VEN TOR TED STATES PATEN ruin.

l R MOLEOD, OF TOIBTONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO MASSEY-HARRIS COM PANY, LIMITED, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

ADJUSTABLE TONGUE.

This invention relates to tongue swhichare adapted to be adjusted to any desired angle and which are therefore particularly adapted for use with agricultural implements which are to be connected in gangs to be drawn by, a traction engine, and my object is to devise a simple and strong construe tion of the supporting base on which the tongue is pivoted and" with which the adjustin mechanism is connected. I attain this 0 ject by means of the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the adjustable tongue connected with the. frame of the binder. Fig. 2 a plan view. of the same. Fig. 3 is a face view of the spiral hoop gear by means-0f which the ad ustment of the tongue is effected.

In drawing like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. In this invention three main parts are concerned; a supporting base adapted to be secured to a binder frame, a tongue pivotally supported thereon and adjusting means between the tongue and the supporting base. The supporting base is substantially the same as that disclosed in the co-pending application, Ser. No. 751,324, of Walter A.

Vv'att-s, and comprises essentially the braces 1 and 2 connected together at their forward ends. to form a triangle. The rearward ends of these members are adapted for connection with a binder frame, the former inaa mannor to be hereinafter described and the lat- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

kpplication filed February 28, 1918. Serial No. 751,323.

;rearwardly extending brace member 6 se- ;cured thereto, the rear end of this brace member 6 extending rearwardly to a point adjacent the rear end of the member 1. Be- ;tween'tlie' rear ends of the braces 1 and 6 is gsecured a block -7 which servesas a pivot ifor the tonguel8; Rearwardly of the block 7 the ends of thebraces 1 and 6 are brought close together to embrace the bracket 9 formed on or secured to the frame of the ;binder and'the bolt 10 extending through ;the ends of the members 1 and 6 and the jbracket 9 forms a horizontal pivot on which jithe members 1 and 6 may rock in a vertical direction. '-The forward part of the tongue 8 is preferably formed of wood while the rearward end is formed of two metal straps '11 which embrace the tongue support 5 and E the .block 7. The latter is provided with the trunnioiis 12 on which the straps 11 are pivoted, as shown particularly in Fig. 1. Suitable cotter pins 13 are passed through the trunnions to retain the straps 11 in position thereon. The tongue may thus swing freely from side to side being supported by the member 5.

The adjustment of the tongue is effected .by means of a rack 14 carried by the supporting base and a spiral gear 15carried by the tongue; The rack 14 is preferably formed of malleable cast iron and is shaped as the are of a circle, the center of which is the pivot of the adjustable tongue. The teeth of the rack face rearwardly and its ends are suitably bolted to the members 1 and 6 of the supporting base. The hoop gear 15 is secured to the spindle 16 journale in a bearing bracket 17 secured to the tongue.

For the purpose of actuating the spindle 17 I provide the inclined spindle 18 connected with the spindle 16 by means of the universal joint 19. Thespindle 18 is also provided with the universal joint 20 which enables its rear end to be laid at any desired angle to any convenient place from which it may be operated preferably beside the seat of the operator in charge of the binder, a crank handle 21 providing means whereby I the spindle may be actuated.

The supports for the spindle 18 on the binder must, of course, be such as will permit of the spindle adjusting itself to the position of the supporting frame of the adjustable tongue as the latter is swung up or down.

v The method of verticallfy tongue is very strong and simple and has the advantage that all joints in the adjusting mechanism are eliminated the only fiexibility called for being in the operating spindle for adjusting mechanism.

What I, claim as my invention is 1. In mechanism of the class described the combination with a supporting base comprising two members, each adapted at its rear end for connection with the apparatus to be drawn and secured together at their forward ends to form a triangle, and a transverse member forming a tongue support connected at one end with the two former members at the apex of the triangle, and a rearwardly extending brace member connecting the other end of the tongue support with the member on which the tongue is pivoted adjacent said pivot, of a tongue pivoted on one of said first mentioned members adjacent to its rear end; a curved rack rigidly supported on theaforesaid members; and means carried by the tongue and engaging the rack whereby the angle of the tongue may be adjusted.

2. In mechanism of the class described a tongue being provided with a curved rack.

3. In. mechanism of the class described the combination with a supporting base formed of three external members arrangedv in rhomboidal form in plan and a diagonal member connecting opposite angles of the rhomboid, a vertical pivotal connection for a tongue being formednear the rear of the base and also two horizontal pivotal connections whereby the base may be connected with the apparatus to be drawn, the side of the rhomboid opposite the pivotal eonnee tion'for the tongue being formed with a curved track. a

4. In mechanism of the class described the combination of a tongue supporting base, a curved rack rigidly supported on said base and facing rearwardly and upwardly; a tongue pivoted on said base behind the rack, and a spiral hoop gear carried by the tongue and engaging the rack whereby the angle of the tongue'may be adjusted.

Toronto, this 11 day of Jan., 1913.

CHARLES MoLEOD. 

